Process of seasoning wood.



Unrrnn STATES PATENT CFFICE.

ADOLPHE STE. MARIE AND ALFRED HOFFMANN, OF LYONS, FRANCE.

PROCESS OF SEASO NING WOOD.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 675,500, dated June 4, 1901 Application filed December 27, 1897.

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ADOLPHE STE. MARIE and ALFRED HOFFMANN, of Lyons, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Treatment of VJood, (for which we have obtained patents in France, No. 235,465, dated January 12, 1894; in England, No. 20,246, dated October 26, 1895; in Austria, 4E6/2,187, dated January 2, 1896; in Hungary, No. 4,684, dated December 1, 1895, and in Germany, No. 83,973, dated September 19, 1894,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved process which permits of rapidly stopping the shrinkage which wood slowly undergoes when drying in the air. We obtain this result by immersing the wood into different liquids, the temperature of which can be raised to 100 Centigrade or more in the open air or in air under pressure. Different salts-such as cal cium chlorid, magnesium chlorid, and the alkaline nitrates and acetates in solution-may be advantageously used for constituting these baths. As a practical example we will quote the bath of a solution of chlorid of calcium in water, the density of the bath being such that its temperature can be progressively raised to any desired temperature between 100 and 170 centigrade.

The operation takes place in the following manner: Into a vessel of sheet or cast iron inclosing the saline solution the wood to be treated is immersed in the shape of suitable boards or blocks and is kept at the temperature of 120 centigrade, for example, during a period of time varying from between threequarters of an hour to three hours, according to the nature of the wood, its thickness, and the result required to be obtained. The wood Serial No. 663,744. (No specimens.)

subjected to this action loses water, diminishes consequently in weight, and undergoes a shrinkage. \Vhen thus treated, only the external part of the wood is impregnated with the salt contained in the solution. This layer of salt is removed either by immersing the wood into cold or boiling water for a sufficient time or by removing the superficial layer by the aid of any suitable instrument.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that What We claim is- 1. The process of seasoning wood which con sists in immersing the wood in a saline solution the temperature of which can be raised to any desired temperature between 100 and 170 centigrade then raising the temperature of the solution to a point above 100 centigrade and maintaining such temperature until moisture and sap are expelled from the Wood.

2. The process of seasoning wood which consists in immersing the wood in a saline solution the temperature of which can be raised to any desired temperature between 100 and 170 centigrade then raising the temperature of the solution to a point above 100 centigrade and maintaining such temperature until moisture and sap are expelled from the wood, and finally freeing the wood from any deposit of salt after its removal from the solution.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADOLPl-IE STE. MARIE. ALFRED HOFFMANN.

WVitnesses:

h/lARIUS VAoHoN, SYDNEY FOERROY. 

